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December 18, 2025

Behind The Pro Climbing League

1 hour 5 minutes

In this podcast, I talk with Charlie Boscoe and Danaan Markey about the Pro Climbing League.

We chat about how it all started, why they wanted to create it, and convince investors to invest in a climbing league.

We also talk A LOT about their new format, which pits athletes head-to-head on identical boulders.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:52) - Origin of PCL

(06:18) - Moment (of lack of) when they thought it would work

(10:49) - Understanding the Finances

(13:41) - Selling Climbing to investors

(19:52) - Vision for the League

(22:38) - First event in London

(24:00) - Origins of the format

(31:55) - Athlete vs Athlete instead of the wall

(41:03) - Routesetting in PCL

(47:37) - Most challenging aspect for routesetters

(48:58) - Breaking ties

(53:01) - Similarities with Lead climbing

(59:08) - How they making both boulders identical

(01:03:01) - Final words

(01:04:41) - Outro

Links:
Pro Climbing League Website
Instagram
YouTube
Charlie's Instagram
Danaan's Instagram

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By Inside Climbing